Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina stayed silent as she didn't know what to say.

"I had terrible morning sickness and it was a time when I had a promising career ahead. I was just twenty-nine and I thought it is not the right time for the baby. So I..." Dr. Kruger took in a deep breath.

"It's rare... complications after abortion... but...I became Attending Physician... When I decided it is time for me to become a mother...It... five miscarriages, going through all the fertility treatments available, clinical depression, and a suicide attempt later, I quit my job and my husband brought me here. John... he was my pillar of support..." Dr. Kruger wiped her eyes. 

"No one here knows this... Not even Jeremy..."

Jerlina got up and squatted beside Dr. Kruger and held her hand. She could feel the pain in the doctor's heart. 

"I got better here. My husband, bless his soul, he's the one good thing I did right in my life. He did a lot for me, lost a lot for me, but he never even thought of losing me... And Jeremy... When we were asked to foster a child, I didn't think I could do it. It was John who gave me the courage to..." 

In Dr. Kruger's face, a small smile bloomed thinking of those days.

"Jerry... he was so violent those days... He went through a lot and he'd curse like a sailor when he was just eleven. He never listened and caused trouble everywhere... He just wanted love. John passed away unfortunately at that time, and I thought I would break down to nothing. But Jeremy... he walked to me sobbing like a child, and that child... he hugged me...." tears dripped down her face as she placed her hands over her heart.

"He's a good guy," Jerlina nodded. 

"Yes, he is. He got the help he needed after that and he became more responsible. He is such a hard worker. No matter how I insisted, he couldn't get interested in school though," she wiped her tears. "Peter Fitzgerald became his inspiration and he started following him around and learnt management from him."

"I thought my life as a doctor ended. But Jeremy... he's the one who made me useful once more. I am glad to be where I am now..." Dr. Kruger took in a deep breath. 

Jerlina wondered the reason the doctor brings this up now is because of Amanda. If she is threatening the doctor to expose her painful past, then she had no respect for her or her profession. 

"That journalist... she's... She has investigated a lot. Although no one here knows, my past is not a secret where I worked..." Dr. Kruger looked at Jerlina.

"I don't mind that my secret gets exposed and I can sue her if she publishes someting I don't consent to... but...She brought it up and it opened all the past wounds. It is affected me and I fear I won't be able to run the clinic anymore. I feel tied..."

"I understand," Jerlina patted her hand.

As an observer, she can ask the doctor to just suck it up and take care of the people who need help. It is true that a lot of people are depending on the doctor. And the clinic solely depends on her as she is the only doctor.

But the doctor needs to take care of herself first. Otherwise, it might affect her job and it may lead to malpractice. 

"She asks for something?" Jerlina stood up.

Why is that girl going through this much trouble to get to the people around Jeremy? Who is behind her?

"I'm not sure... But she is a lot interested in Jeremy. I think she might want to meet him?" the doctor wasn't sure.

"If she wants to meet him, all she has to do is make an appointment with me, right?" Jerlina sighed. 

Whatever it is, she didn't like this Amanda Prescott. She rarely hates people especially people she didn't even meet, but she hated Amanda.

"I'll find a way, doctor. You are not alone. You have us all. You have Jeremy who loves you. Don't let that Amanda affect you. Take as much rest as you want. We can hire more doctors to support you and... I'll find a way to handle Amanda." Jerlina assured her.

"I'm not telling you this to make you do something... I don't even know why I told you all this..." Dr. Kruger stood up and held Jerlina's cheek.

Maybe she already sees her as her son's better half.

"I know," Jerlina smiled. 

She always thought the doctor was kind and strong. She is. It just seems like to get strong one must go through a lot of struggles. Only sufferings make us stronger. 

Yes, sufferings can make us drown. But when we have support... Like the doctor's husband supported her, like Bobby supported Scarlett... as Jeremy supports her...

Yes, I can be stronger too.

-----

The next morning Daisy made them all breakfast from the leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner and they all went home. 

Jerlina thought they'd be resting, but Jeremy was getting ready to go out. He even was loading his cutting tools on his jeep.

Jerlina asked him and he told her that he is going to get Christmas trees.  Apparently, they have a patch in the woods for growing pine trees and each year he and some guys would go to the place and cut Christmas trees for those households that cannot have a Christmas Tree.

That's awesome, Jerlina thought.

"Come with us, Chippy," Bobby was chirpy in the morning. "We'll welcome a jester!"

"Stop calling me Chippy," Jerlina gritted her teeth.

"Then should I call you Madam-"

"Chippy is fine..." Jerlina interjected him.

Rather than calling her Madam Luna, Chippy is a hundered times better.

Jerlina looked at Jeremy. She wondered if she'd be a nuisance. 

"You can come of you want." Jeremy shrugged.

"Okay," Jerlina shrugged. She'd be bored sitting in the house, so she decided to go along.

"Go on, then. Get dressed warmly. The temperature is dipping," Jeremy spoke in a gentle voice and Jerlina with a smile walked into the house.

She dressed warmly and picked up some supplies and got inside the Jeep. She didn't know how happy she had made Jeremy by showing interest in his voluntary work.

She's my love!